Mexico’s Defense Department announced on Feb. 22 that they successfully executed an operation that resulted in the death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, otherwise known as “El Mencho,” who was head of the powerful drug cartel Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The operation was carried out with intelligence support from the United States, according to White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt, and represents a major blow to CJNG. The Mexican Defense Department said that troops killed seven people during the operation, including Osguera Cervantes, who was wounded and died later in custody. Mexican troops also arrested two others and seized armored vehicles, weapons, rocket launchers and other arms.
The operation was a “well executed” operation between the two nations, Pablo Calderon Martinez, an associate professor of politics and international relations told Northeastern Global News (NGN). “There seems to have been real collaboration between governments and particularly between intelligence collaboration which I think is very, very important,” Calderon Martinez added. “It’s the way these things should work. It’s a pivot from the previous strategy that we’ve seen with the previous administration in Mexico. We’re returning to this kingpin operation, this idea of catching the real big names.”
